Organizing Paper. Out of all the
questions I get from my GON readers, this is the number one topic. In light of this, during this week I'll be focusing every one of my newsletter issues on organizing paper.
Today's
topic:
How to Sort Paper: Back to Basics
In this modern era dominated by digital storage, we often find ourselves wrestling with a pile of paper that desperately needs sorting. Whether it's a collection of bills, important documents, or just a bunch of random notes, conquering the paper chaos can feel overwhelming.
But fear not! You can sort your papers and tackle that unruly paper pile. Let's dive in together!
1. Set Up Your Sorting
Station: Before you embark on your paper-sorting adventure, create a dedicated sorting space. Clear off a table or desk and use this as your sorting station...preferably one you don't have to clean off each night since you likely won't get this done in a day.
2. Gather Your Sorting
Toolkit: To make sorting a breeze, gather a few handy supplies. Grab some sticky notes and colorful markers or pens. These trusty tools will be your partners in crime as you sort your papers. 3. Let Categories Be Your Guide: Sorting is smoother when you establish clear categories for your papers. Take a moment to think about the most relevant and helpful categories based on the content and purpose of your papers. Some common category examples are financial, house, travel, and medical.
4. Divide and Conquer: Start by picking up one sheet of paper from the pile and examine its content.
Determine which category it belongs to and place a sticky note or label on top of it, clearly indicating the category name. Any other paper that falls in this category can go behind that sheet.
Repeat this process for each sheet of paper until you have several piles of paper sorted into categories.
Easy-peasy!
